“So? You were being a douche. In fact, every time you open your mouth, you piss me off. Can we just kiss and not talk?” I leaned up and captured his lips. He laughed but stopped when I nipped his lower lip.
Our fight was forgotten as I slipped a hand under his shirt and caressed his skin. I sighed with pleasure at the rippling muscles, the solid feel of his pecs. I moved my fingers to his chest, loving the way his body responded to my touch.
He rolled over and pulled me on top, breaking off the kiss in the process. I liked to be on top. He nibbled his way along my jaw to my neck. When he reached my shoulder, he took a nip and stopped.
I glanced at him. “You okay?”
“Yes, but we have an audience and I’m not in the mood to be nice to them, so I’ll let you deal with them.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the soul peering at us through the window. She must have died in her twenties and at some club because she was wearing a tube top that left her mid-section bare and dark hair framed a heavily madeup face. Souls knew better than to come this close to my house.
I scooted off the bed and walked to the window. “No. You can’t come inside.”
She nodded and beckoned me. I glanced at Echo. “She wants something.”
“Tell her to get lost. I need you more.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.” I stepped back and reached for my shoe.
Echo sighed.
“You don’t have to come. I just want to know what she wants.”
He snickered and watched me with a long-suffering expression. “If only I could believe that. One will become two, then three.”
Despite his annoyance, I knew he respected what I did too much to dismiss it. Before, he would have pulled out his scythe and used the glow from the runes to dissipate the souls.
“Is that why you send Syn to my school during my lunch sessions? I’ve noticed he tends to be overly protective. Usually, he starts to scowl by my fifth soul. A few times, I’ve caught him glaring at them.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about. Where exactly did he and Andris disappear to last week? He was very vague about it.”
“A pack of bullies from a private school needed to be taught a lesson.” I grabbed a journal and a pen, then started for the door. He followed. “Jenny needed closure.”
Echo snagged my wrist and pulled me to his side. “You’re asking my people to become vigilantes?”
“Nope. They decided on their own. I even warned them to be careful. Besides, Andris is not a Grimnir.”
“Thank the gods. But you have Grimnirs and Valakyries working together now. That’s never happened since the beginning of this world.”
“About time. When all is said and done, you are all reapers, regardless of the final destination of the souls. If Raine were around, she and I would have handled the bullies. We’ve discussed pooling our resources. She helps the living while I help the dead, but our fields are starting to cross.” Dad looked up when we reached downstairs.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” he asked.
“No, a few lost souls need my help outside,” I said. It felt nice to say that instead of pretending the pen and paper in my hands were for homework.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour, so don’t let them detain you for too long,” Mom called from the kitchen. “Echo, make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”
Echo grinned. “Always, ma’am. If that’s an invitation to join you for dinner, I accept.”
Mom grinned. “You are always welcome here.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jemison. I have an open invitation,” Echo whispered, and I shot him a wide smile for the sake of my parents, who were watching us. I pushed open the door and dragged him outside, then pulled my hand free from his grip.
“Don’t get too comfortable. When we start pretending for real, the farm will be off-limits to you.”
“You know you can’t resist me,” he said. When he reached for my hand, I engaged my runes and took off. His laughter followed me.
The woman was by the apple trees, but as I got closer, more souls appeared. I settled on a bench while Echo leaned against an apple tree. The trees were in full bloom, white and pink flowers on every branch. Spring was my favorite time of the year, but I stopped admiring the blossoms when the woman looked at me impatiently. Souls were always impatient. The second we bonded, her thoughts drifted to me.
My name is Caridee Williams, and I’m here to pledge my support to you, young medium. We heard about the bounty hunters. We will not let them reap you.
Bounty hunters?
The ancient reapers, she said impatiently. The others said not to say anything, just stay around and be ready to fight and defend you, but I had to say something. Being na?ve got me killed, so I don’t want you to die just because you are too trusting.
I smiled. That’s so sweet of you, Caridee, but they were not here to reap me.
Yes, they are. They pretend to be nice, but when you let your guard down, they pounce and you find yourself tethered to them. Then there’s the other one. The one no one can see, but we’ve felt its presence at your school and here at the farm. It was even inside your room. You see all these friends of mine? She waved at the souls surrounding us. Quite a few of them were dressed like her. They’re not going to let anyone hurt you or take you away.
I was touched. Thank you for watching over me, but I don’t want you guys to fight anyone on my behalf. The ancients had a message for me, but they’re gone now. As for the second presence you can’t see, she is a friend.
What kind of friend hides?
A snooping mother. A special one, but I’m happy you guys are watching over me. So what can I do for you?
I want the same justice you got Jenny before I can leave with a reaper.
I wrote down everything she wanted. When she eased out of me, she stopped to say something to the next several souls before taking off.
You are not alone, Medium, the next one said.
Thank you.
For the next hour, I heard the same reassuring words before each and every soul shared their problem.
“That was strange,” I said once we ended the session. Echo pushed away from the tree and came toward the bench, where I still sat. I explained what had happened, and he grinned.
“That’s because they love you.” He took the book and flipped through it, groaning every few minutes.
“What?”
“They all want to see justice served before being reaped,” he grumbled.
I grinned. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not. I’ll pass this around to the others. This one belongs in Asgard,” he added, pointing at a page. “And this one, too.”
“Swing by the mansion and give them to Andris.”
“Do I have to? Svana could reap them.”
“Andris gets equal share. Besides, you two should bury the hatchet if you plan to continue working with me to help souls find closure.”
Mom appeared on the patio. “Dinner is ready.”
“About what we discussed earlier,” Echo started.
“We didn’t discuss anything. You decided what we should do, and I’m supposed to go along with it. So unless you plan to discuss it with me and listen to my opinions and take them into consideration, I’m not interested.” When he didn’t speak, I got up and went into the house. He followed without saying a word.
Mom studied us with a frown as we settled around the table. I didn’t know what her gift was before she switched to runic magic, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was mind reading. She always knew things before I said them. She and Dad talked about Immortal families in the valley during dinner.
“The Tolberts arrived here after we did.”
“The Tolberts are Immortal? Does that mean Jaeden and Nate were orphans?”
Dad chuckled at my reaction. “Yes.”
The two were juniors in college now, but in high school, one had played football while the other had swum. Their family owned one of the largest vineyards in Kayville, their land bordering ours. “Do they know who they are?”
“They both chose to use runes. It is a choice most Immortals give the orphans. Some parents tell them early, while others wait until they’re eighteen. Some kids decide to start using some runes early.”